Anti-viral compositions

Abstract

The treatment of viral infections with a lithium salt and one of cytarabine or idoxuridine.

I claim: 
     
       1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising as active ingredients an effective synergistic amount of at least one physiologically acceptable lithium salt together with an anti-virally effective amount of at least one anti-viral nucleoside analog. 
     
     
       2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lithium salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium chloride, lithium succinate, lithium citrate, lithium acetylsalicylate and lithium orotate. 
     
     
       3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 containing from 0.01 to 30% by weight of lithium ions. 
     
     
       4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said anti-viral nucleoside analog is selected from the group consisting of cytarabine and idoxuridine. 
     
     
       5. A composition as claimed in claim 1 containing from 0.2 to 10% by weight of said anti-viral nucleoside analog. 
     
     
       6. A method for the treatment of a viral infection in a human or warm-blooded animal subject which comprises conjointly administering to said subject an effective synergistic amount of at least one physiologically acceptable lithium salt together with an anti-virally effective amount of at least one anti-viral nucleoside analog. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said lithium salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium chloride, lithium succinate, lithium citrate, lithium acetysalicylate and lithium orotate. 
     
     
       8. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said anti-viral nucleoside analog is selected from the group consisting of cytarabine and idoxuridine. 
     
     
       9. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said lithium salt and said anti-viral nucleoside analog are topically administered to herpes lesions.